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Population in Lesotho compared to Mozambique: Trends, Charts, Rankings

Updated on by Georank team

The latest officially reported population of Lesotho was 2,337,423 in 2024 vs 34,631,766 people in Mozambique in 2024. In 2026, based on the adjusted UN estimation, the current Lesotho's population is 2,396,633 people compared to 36,941,128 in Mozambique.

Population statistics:

  • Mozambique's population is 15.4 times bigger than Lesotho's.
  • Lesotho is ranked the 143rd most populous country in the world, while Mozambique is the 43rd.
  • The countries together account for 0.47% of the world: 0.03% for Lesotho vs 0.45% for Mozambique.
  • For the last 10 years, Lesotho has had an average growth rate of +1.17% per year vs +2.99% in Mozambique.
  • Since 2006, the population of Lesotho has increased from 1.95M people to 2.4M (23.2% growth), while Mozambique has grown from 20.8M to 36.9M (77.7% growth).

Lesotho vs Mozambique: population by year and forecast

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Mozambique
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Population
Lesotho Mozambique
2100 3,280,784 105,684,658
2099 3,286,697 105,291,198
2098 3,292,498 104,859,475
2097 3,298,102 104,428,679
2096 3,303,027 103,962,668
2095 3,307,947 103,480,514
2094 3,312,002 102,989,197
2093 3,315,757 102,464,565
2092 3,319,661 101,929,545
2091 3,322,573 101,410,418
2090 3,324,769 100,829,728
2089 3,326,847 100,211,758
2088 3,328,480 99,594,130
2087 3,329,964 98,943,096
2086 3,330,456 98,288,529
2085 3,331,259 97,609,760
2084 3,331,485 96,926,143
2083 3,331,492 96,193,441
2082 3,331,234 95,449,095
2081 3,330,412 94,708,064
2080 3,329,267 93,957,824
2079 3,327,166 93,171,561
2078 3,324,646 92,350,666
2077 3,321,422 91,530,198
2076 3,317,850 90,699,125
2075 3,314,237 89,848,943
2074 3,309,174 88,999,187
2073 3,303,860 88,113,398
2072 3,298,181 87,210,961
2071 3,291,492 86,283,286
2070 3,283,654 85,349,704
2069 3,275,244 84,361,565
2068 3,266,152 83,400,997
2067 3,256,626 82,437,397
2066 3,246,903 81,437,030
2065 3,237,153 80,446,244
2064 3,226,489 79,433,801
2063 3,215,103 78,430,632
2062 3,202,287 77,376,597
2061 3,188,933 76,274,806
2060 3,174,998 75,197,384
2059 3,160,204 74,082,771
2058 3,145,053 72,958,774
2057 3,129,261 71,828,186
2056 3,113,129 70,677,889
2055 3,095,904 69,542,373
2054 3,078,567 68,419,331
2053 3,060,152 67,306,817
2052 3,040,649 66,163,407
2051 3,020,109 65,032,770
2050 2,999,457 63,898,302
2049 2,978,037 62,731,532
2048 2,955,727 61,579,833
2047 2,932,688 60,424,101
2046 2,909,307 59,273,421
2045 2,885,537 58,132,244
2044 2,861,372 56,969,604
2043 2,836,777 55,814,906
2042 2,811,663 54,633,120
2041 2,786,147 53,476,191
2040 2,760,391 52,305,805
2039 2,734,400 51,136,087
2038 2,708,216 49,973,820
2037 2,681,863 48,827,661
2036 2,654,755 47,668,628
2035 2,627,701 46,520,419
2034 2,600,880 45,358,645
2033 2,574,065 44,229,218
2032 2,547,344 43,102,655
2031 2,520,831 41,993,535
2030 2,494,646 40,901,742
2029 2,468,268 39,818,379
2028 2,441,871 38,748,841
2027 2,415,830 37,696,739
2026 2,389,516 36,660,958
2025 2,363,516 35,650,681
2024 2,337,423 34,631,766
2023 2,311,472 33,635,160
2022 2,286,110 32,656,246
2021 2,261,542 31,707,800
2020 2,235,727 30,783,688
2019 2,209,405 29,884,380
2018 2,183,603 29,018,644
2017 2,157,110 28,166,393
2016 2,130,422 27,337,105
2015 2,104,611 26,547,572
2014 2,080,089 25,788,475
2013 2,056,504 25,051,611
2012 2,034,354 24,337,846
2011 2,014,009 23,649,039
2010 1,996,251 22,999,235
2009 1,980,883 22,391,745
2008 1,966,541 21,819,036
2007 1,953,268 21,287,635
2006 1,945,063 20,787,087
2005 1,953,076 20,304,569
2004 1,971,129 19,840,313
2003 1,985,059 19,392,475
2002 1,994,679 18,958,338
2001 2,000,853 18,537,729
2000 2,003,913 18,129,653
1999 2,003,234 17,734,506
1998 1,998,049 17,340,464
1997 1,988,130 16,949,982
1996 1,972,418 16,492,480
1995 1,951,437 15,960,530
1994 1,927,707 15,033,853
1993 1,901,793 14,051,192
1992 1,873,274 13,613,316
1991 1,842,379 13,352,090
1990 1,809,696 13,094,537
1989 1,775,436 12,906,842
1988 1,739,841 12,800,558
1987 1,703,390 12,822,574
1986 1,666,138 12,770,578
1985 1,624,379 12,548,949
1984 1,578,986 12,315,954
1983 1,534,413 12,073,822
1982 1,490,732 11,824,370
1981 1,448,069 11,568,127
1980 1,406,521 11,336,221
1979 1,366,169 11,028,809
1978 1,327,240 10,618,250
1977 1,289,967 10,224,975
1976 1,253,214 9,867,209
1975 1,213,643 9,540,817
1974 1,172,420 9,236,093
1973 1,132,697 8,954,242
1972 1,094,063 8,692,935
1971 1,056,246 8,456,317
1970 1,019,273 8,250,506
1969 983,202 8,066,951
1968 948,105 7,892,613
1967 913,982 7,724,550
1966 881,870 7,562,990
1965 854,090 7,406,421
1964 829,437 7,255,061
1963 805,373 7,109,828
1962 781,814 6,969,364
1961 758,824 6,834,936
1960 736,500 6,713,695

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/mozambique | CC BY

From 2006 to 2016, the population of Lesotho increased by 185,359 people (a 9.53% growth), while Mozambique gained 6,550,018 people (a 31.5% growth).

For the next 10 years, from 2016 to 2026, Lesotho gained 266,211 people (a 12.5% growth), while Mozambique's population increased by 9,604,023 people (a 35.1% growth).

Lesotho was ranked 144th most populous country in 2006 and is 143rd in 2026. Mozambique was ranked 52nd in 2006 and ranked 43rd now.

The UN's World Population Prospects forecasts that in 24 years (in 2050) Lesotho's population will grow by 25.2% to 2,999,457 people with a rank change from 143rd to 141st. The population of Mozambique will increase by 73% to 63,898,302 people and rank change from 43rd to 32nd.

Lesotho is projected to reach its peak in 2083 at 3.33M people compared to the peak of 106M people in 2100 for Mozambique.

Population growth rate by year

Lesotho
Factual

Projection
Mozambique
Factual

Projection
1x
Year Growth rate
Lesotho Mozambique
2100 -0.18% 0.37%
2099 -0.18% 0.41%
2098 -0.17% 0.41%
2097 -0.15% 0.45%
2096 -0.15% 0.47%
2095 -0.12% 0.48%
2094 -0.11% 0.51%
2093 -0.12% 0.52%
2092 -0.09% 0.51%
2091 -0.07% 0.58%
2090 -0.06% 0.62%
2089 -0.05% 0.62%
2088 -0.04% 0.66%
2087 -0.01% 0.67%
2086 -0.02% 0.7%
2085 -0.007% 0.71%
2084 -0% 0.76%
2083 0.008% 0.78%
2082 0.02% 0.78%
2081 0.03% 0.8%
2080 0.06% 0.84%
2079 0.08% 0.89%
2078 0.1% 0.9%
2077 0.11% 0.92%
2076 0.11% 0.95%
2075 0.15% 0.95%
2074 0.16% 1.01%
2073 0.17% 1.03%
2072 0.2% 1.08%
2071 0.24% 1.09%
2070 0.26% 1.17%
2069 0.28% 1.15%
2068 0.29% 1.17%
2067 0.3% 1.23%
2066 0.3% 1.23%
2065 0.33% 1.27%
2064 0.35% 1.28%
2063 0.4% 1.36%
2062 0.42% 1.44%
2061 0.44% 1.43%
2060 0.47% 1.5%
2059 0.48% 1.54%
2058 0.5% 1.57%
2057 0.52% 1.63%
2056 0.56% 1.63%
2055 0.56% 1.64%
2054 0.6% 1.65%
2053 0.64% 1.73%
2052 0.68% 1.74%
2051 0.69% 1.78%
2050 0.72% 1.86%
2049 0.75% 1.87%
2048 0.79% 1.91%
2047 0.8% 1.94%
2046 0.82% 1.96%
2045 0.84% 2.04%
2044 0.87% 2.07%
2043 0.89% 2.16%
2042 0.92% 2.16%
2041 0.93% 2.24%
2040 0.95% 2.29%
2039 0.97% 2.33%
2038 0.98% 2.35%
2037 1.02% 2.43%
2036 1.03% 2.47%
2035 1.03% 2.56%
2034 1.04% 2.55%
2033 1.05% 2.61%
2032 1.05% 2.64%
2031 1.05% 2.67%
2030 1.07% 2.72%
2029 1.08% 2.76%
2028 1.08% 2.79%
2027 1.1% 2.83%
2026 1.1% 2.83%
2025 1.12% 2.94%
2024 1.12% 2.96%
2023 1.11% 3%
2022 1.09% 2.99%
2021 1.15% 3%
2020 1.19% 3.01%
2019 1.18% 2.98%
2018 1.23% 3.03%
2017 1.25% 3.03%
2016 1.23% 2.97%
2015 1.18% 2.94%
2014 1.15% 2.94%
2013 1.09% 2.93%
2012 1.01% 2.91%
2011 0.89% 2.83%
2010 0.78% 2.71%
2009 0.73% 2.62%
2008 0.68% 2.5%
2007 0.42% 2.41%
2006 -0.41% 2.38%
2005 -0.92% 2.34%
2004 -0.7% 2.31%
2003 -0.48% 2.29%
2002 -0.31% 2.27%
2001 -0.15% 2.25%
2000 0.03% 2.23%
1999 0.26% 2.27%
1998 0.5% 2.3%
1997 0.8% 2.77%
1996 1.08% 3.33%
1995 1.23% 6.16%
1994 1.36% 6.99%
1993 1.52% 3.22%
1992 1.68% 1.96%
1991 1.81% 1.97%
1990 1.93% 1.45%
1989 2.05% 0.83%
1988 2.14% -0.17%
1987 2.24% 0.41%
1986 2.57% 1.77%
1985 2.87% 1.89%
1984 2.9% 2.01%
1983 2.93% 2.11%
1982 2.95% 2.22%
1981 2.95% 2.05%
1980 2.95% 2.79%
1979 2.93% 3.87%
1978 2.89% 3.85%
1977 2.93% 3.63%
1976 3.26% 3.42%
1975 3.52% 3.3%
1974 3.51% 3.15%
1973 3.53% 3.01%
1972 3.58% 2.8%
1971 3.63% 2.49%
1970 3.67% 2.28%
1969 3.7% 2.21%
1968 3.73% 2.18%
1967 3.64% 2.14%
1966 3.25% 2.11%
1965 2.97% 2.09%
1964 2.99% 2.04%
1963 3.01% 2.02%
1962 3.03% 1.97%
1961 3.03% 1.81%

Data sources: United Nations | World Population Prospects (2025–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10); World Bank | Health (1961–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/mozambique | CC BY

In 2024, the population of Lesotho grew by 1.12%, while Mozambique's population grew by 2.96%.

Live population counters

Lesotho Mozambique
Current population
2396633
36941128
Population rank 143/197 43/197
Percent of world population 0.03% 0.45%
One net population change
20.3 minutes
31.6 seconds
One birth every
9.43 minutes
25 seconds
One death every
21.4 minutes
2.23 minutes
Daily growth/decline +71 +2,730
Annual growth/decline +25,951 +996,606
Annual growth/decline rate +1.12% +2.96%
Population growth rate rank 93/197 16/197
One migration net change every
1.69 hours
8.04 minutes
Annual migration change -5,192 -65,573
Net migration rank 117/196 178/196
Foreign-born residents 15,039 353,143
Foreign-born residents rank 173/195 93/195
Foreign-born share of population 0.6% 1%
Foreign-born share rank 170/195 154/195

Natural population change vs migration

Lesotho
Natural

Migration
Mozambique
Natural

Migration
1x
Year Population change
Lesotho Mozambique
Natural Migration Natural Migration
2025 - -5,192 - -65,573
2024 - -5,107 - -38,940
2023 31,115 -5,168 1,025,334 -36,276
2022 30,803 -6,023 1,003,689 -34,936
2021 27,806 -3,449 951,234 -23,103
2020 30,721 -3,449 945,952 -25,864
2019 32,279 -6,896 927,581 -49,080
2018 33,112 -6,892 903,176 -50,224
2017 33,601 -6,850 876,594 -25,043
2016 33,390 -6,766 850,430 -43,398
2015 32,087 -7,087 824,435 -52,374
2014 30,922 -6,877 799,778 -53,625
2013 29,789 -6,659 784,641 -57,067
2012 27,592 -6,425 763,088 -63,131
2011 25,647 -6,118 741,303 -63,638
2010 21,877 -5,886 719,025 -97,079
2009 20,335 -5,599 693,673 -100,625
2008 19,349 -5,392 654,920 -102,534
2007 17,763 -5,179 610,913 -100,490
2006 15,234 -11,416 586,009 -95,333
2005 15,831 -35,679 570,132 -95,770
2004 17,271 -33,530 554,973 -100,824
2003 20,133 -31,723 540,992 -99,484
2002 22,274 -29,924 529,867 -103,102
2001 23,190 -27,874 519,594 -105,130
2000 24,786 -26,220 506,162 -104,476
1999 27,393 -24,610 491,814 -103,223
1998 30,889 -23,299 474,453 -74,952
1997 34,637 -22,396 461,209 -79,732
1996 36,228 -17,042 442,559 90,975
1995 37,370 -14,588 421,630 108,751
1994 38,629 -13,953 384,821 938,163
1993 40,505 -13,347 369,518 272,829
1992 42,579 -12,707 362,373 -128,960
1991 44,026 -12,114 357,676 -68,644
1990 45,060 -11,598 353,290 -127,215
1989 46,264 -11,207 348,833 -199,509
1988 47,158 -11,028 349,480 -286,247
1987 47,718 -10,946 334,438 -441,710
1986 45,232 -7,501 332,609 -121,350
1985 44,575 1,222 307,625 -75,642
1984 43,785 1,199 304,524 -70,532
1983 42,899 1,253 324,158 -73,899
1982 41,941 1,281 321,493 -72,852
1981 40,808 1,307 322,207 -58,347
1980 39,617 1,361 349,586 -149,650
1979 38,440 1,285 331,162 83,699
1978 37,084 1,047 310,403 95,859
1977 35,654 746 289,193 91,082
1976 34,117 2,986 273,924 61,326
1975 32,311 9,723 257,984 59,562
1974 30,444 9,972 240,665 51,238
1973 28,859 10,183 226,847 44,951
1972 27,841 10,386 215,793 35,023
1971 26,838 10,563 211,137 11,297
1970 25,935 10,605 207,385 -18,197
1969 25,137 10,465 202,174 -24,251
1968 24,490 10,108 197,623 -26,872
1967 23,911 9,734 193,044 -27,672
1966 23,326 7,248 189,218 -31,462
1965 22,755 2,239 185,931 -30,538
1964 22,116 2,198 182,334 -35,005
1963 21,585 2,220 180,867 -37,738
1962 21,132 2,172 176,297 -38,504
1961 20,581 2,100 171,236 -40,181
1960 19,981 1,989 165,774 -54,351

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/mozambique | CC BY

Over the last 10 years, 84.2% of the population change in Lesotho is from natural causes (a gain of 315,836 people) and 15.8% is from migration (a loss of 59,457 people). In Mozambique 95.9% is from natural causes (a gain of 9,108,203 people) and 4.15% is from migration (a loss of 393,923 people).

As of 2024, 15,039 residents or 0.6% of the population were not native-born in Lesotho, compared to 353,143 people or 1% in Mozambique.

Biggest cities by population

Lesotho
City Population
Maseru 344K
Teyateyaneng 75.1K
Mafeteng 57.1K
Butha-Buthe 10K
Mozambique
City Population
Maputo 1.13M
Matola 1.03M
Nampula 743K
Beira 531K
Quelimane 350K
Chimoio 239K
Nacala 225K
Tete 153K
Pemba 141K
Xai-Xai 116K

Compare countries by 7 more topics

Population map with other countries

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Health (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2026, retrieved 2026-03-10); U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08); Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/population/lesotho/mozambique | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Health (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. United Nations | World Population Prospects (1960–2100, retrieved 2026-03-10)
  3. U.S. Census Bureau (1960–2025, retrieved 2026-02-08)
  4. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (2000–2019, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  5. Wikidata (2026, retrieved 2026-02-08)

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